Door closer and check.



1104744309. A PATENTED NOV. 24, 190m J. BARDSLEY & A. J. ROSENTRETER.

DOOR CLOSER AND CHECK.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN 2, 1903 N0 MODEL.

INVENTORS. fisgaliflanls'ley WITNESSES} EIZ' Jffioselzlreler ATTORNEY PATENTBD NOV. 24,1903; J. BARDSLEY & A. J. ROSENTRETER.

DOOR CLOSER AND CHECK.

. APILIOATION FILED JAN. 2, 1903. 30 MODEL.

" .ATTIJ'RNEY door closers and checks; and it consists in' Patented November 24, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BARDSLEY, OF MONTCLAIR, AND ALBERT ROSENTRETER,

OF BOONTON', NEW JERSEY; BARDSLEY.

SAID ROSENTRETER ASSIGNOR TO SAID oooR ,CLOSER AND CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 744,709, dated November 24, 1903. Application filed January 2, 1903. Serial No. 137,669. (No model.)

To allwhom it may cancer-rt:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH BARDSLEY, a resident of Montclair, Essex county, and AL- BERT J. ROSENTRETER, a resident of Boonton, in the county of Morris, State of New Jersey, citizens of the United States, have invented jointly certain new and useful Improvements in Door Closers and Checks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in the novel features, arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide an entirely efficient and durable door closer and check adapted for either right or left 4 hand doors, the closer embracing a doubleacting coiled spring, which may be Wound from one end during the opening of a righthand door and from the otherend during the opening of a left-hand door.

, In its preferred form for application to the upper ends of doors the door closer and check will be combined in one apparatus; but when the closer feature of the invention is to be embodied in a spring-hinge for use below the inner edge of the door the checking features of the structure will be omitted.

In carrying out our invention We provide in one form thereof a structure embracing the usual actuating-spindle and operating lever-arm thercon,with suitable intermediate connections for operating the checking-piston from said spindle and either end of said spring from said lever-arm, said spring and Figure 1 is a top view of a door check and closer constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, the several parts being shown in the position they occupy whenthe door is in its closed position. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the door check and closer on the dotted line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top view of same, the top cap for the spring-chamber being omitted. Fig. 4 is a like view of same, all of the interior parts of the spring-chamber and the cap therefor being omitted. Fig. 5 is a central vertical sect-ion, partly broken away, of the shell or casing of the door check and closer, the actuating-spindles, spring, piston, and other connecting parts being omitted. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of same onthe dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the liquid-holding cylinder on the dotted line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is adetached perspective View of a rotary frame for winding the closing-spring from either end, this frame in the construction shown in Fig. 2 being freely mounted upon the actuating-spindle for the checking-piston; and Fig. 9 is a detached perspective view'of the checking-piston:

In the drawings, referring to Figs. v1 to 7, 2O designates the exterior casing of the combined closer and door-check, said casing comprising the liquid-holding cylinder 21a'nd springchamber 22, said cylinder being disposed below said spring-chamber, as usual, and partially separated therefrom by means of a par-,

the liquid between the cylinder 21 and springchamber 22.

The cylinder 21 is in one integral casting, except at one end, where said cylinder is closed by means of the sheet-steel cap 27, fitting within an annular recess 28, formed in the end of said cylinder and adjustably held in place by means of the screw 29 and spiderframe 30, the latter engaging the annular shoulder 31, formed with the cylinder 21 and having the central threaded aperture to receive the inner threaded end of the screw 29. '1 he head of the screw 29 is inclined at its inner side and firmly presses against a correspondingly-inclined flange 32, surrounding the opening 33 in the cap 27 for the screw 29, as shown in Fig. 2. Upon the tightening of the screw 29 the head of the latter bearing against the cap 27 will operate to bind said cap very tightly against the shoulder 34, formed at the base of the aforesaid recess 28, and. by reason of the fact that the cap 27 is formed of sheet-steel the tightening of the screw 29 is enabled to perform the further function of slightly springing the central portion of the cap 27 inwardly and causing the outer edges of said cap to very tightly bind against the adjoining surfaces of the cylinder 21. The fact that the cap 27 is made from sheet-steel also assures the creation of a very tight joint between the flange 32 and the head of the screw 29, said flange exerting a springtension outwardly against said head.

Within the cylinder 21 is placed the piston 35, within which is formed an aperture comprising the sections 36 37, the latter being less in diameter than the section 36 and being at the inner end of the piston. At the juncture of the sections 36 37 is formed a valve-seat for the ball-valve 38, which when against said seatwill close the passage through the piston, as during the closing of the door, and which is prevented from escaping from the larger section 36 by means of the pin 39, which extends entirely through thepiston, as shown in Fig. 2, and servesa twofold purpose of confining the ball 38 and pivotally receiving the outer end of the piston-rod 40, whose inner end receives a pin 41, depending from the crank-arm 42, carried by the lower end of the actuating-spindle 25. The piston 35 is of cup shape and is formed in its interior with the thickened sections 43 44, said section 43 containing the passage through the piston and said sections 43 44 affording substantial bearing-surfaces forthe pin 39 and the outer end of the piston-rod 40. The outer end of the piston-rod 40 fits freely, though rather snugly, upon the facing sides of the sections 43 44, and the facing surfaces of said sections are flat and engage corresponding surfaces at the outer end of the piston-rod 40, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby said piston-rod 40 is well supported and housed at its outer end and its efficiency and regularity of movement enhanced. It is to be observed that the upper surface of the section 43 extends from the outer end of the piston 35 to the inner edge of the same, whereby a very long bearingsurface is provided for the front or outer portion of the piston-rod 40, and this is a feature of importance, because it insures the continued due relation of the piston-rod and piston to each other, the proper regular operation of said rod and piston, and the maintenance of the piston against any axial turning in the cylinder.

The cylinder 21 at its inner side, which comes adjacent to the door when the apparatus is in use, is provided with the by-pass 45, extending around the piston 35 and connected with a release-port 46. The cylinder 21 is also provided with the adjusting-screw 47 for controlling the passage of the liquid through the bypass 45 in a well-known manner, this screw 47 in the present instance, however, being adjacent to the inner side of the apparatus and arranged on an inclination, said screw pointing downwardly and inwardly in .a direction toward the bottom of the cylinder 21 and being adapted to cross the horizontal portion of the by-pass 45 and engage the inner downwardly-inclined portion 48 of said by-pass, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. A portion of myinvention comprises the bypass 45, having the downwardly and inwardly turned discharge end or portion 48, with the regulating-screw 47 disposed at the inner side of the apparatus, where it is out of the way and not so likely to be handled or operated by meddlers. The downward inclination of the inner portion 48 of the by-pass is of special functional importance, because it will during the closing of the door and when the liquid is being forced through the by-pass 45 under the pressure of the closing-spring direct the moving body ofliquid coming through the by-pass downwardly into the main body of the liquid in the cylinder 21, whereby the foaming of the liquid in said cylinder is prevented. It will be observed on reference to Fig. 5 that the lower discharge end of the inner portion 48 of the by-pass is well below the upper edges of the piston 35, and by reason of this the discharge of the liquid through said by-pass will be at a point at all times in the operative condition of the check a substantial distance below the upper surface of the liquid within the cylinder. The piston 35 has a recess 49 formed in that side thereof which travels along the line of the horizontal portion of the by-pass 45, and this recess 49 is intended to pass into alinement with the release-port 46 when the door has reached a nearly-closed position, so that there may be a sudden release for the liquid from the bypass 45 through the port 46 and recess 49 at such time as it may be desired that the closing-spring may exert its force to firmly close and latch the door. The actuating-spindle 25 extends upwardly through the springchamber 22 and has detachably secured upon its upper polygonal end the lever-arm 50, carrying a pivoted double-pointed pawl 51 for engagement with the ratchet-plate 52, which is disposed over the cap 53, closing the upper end of the spring-chamber 22 and having a central vertical tubular hub portion 54,whose upper end passes within an annular recess IZC 55, formed in the under side of the ratchetplate 52.

The ratchet-plate 52 is formed with a central depending tubular hub portion 56, which .is free upon the upper end of theactuatingsaid hub is formed with projecting lugs 60 to engage the recesses 61, Fig. 8, formed at the 'upper end of the intermediate rotary frame 62, which is free upon the spindle and comprises the upper and lower sleeve members 63 64 and connecting .Jside members 65 66, the latter at its upper and lower ends forming arms 67 68 to receive the bent ends of the closing-spring, as hereinafter explained. Be-

tween the arm 68 and lower sleeve 64 is' formed a recess 70, within which the lower end of the closing-spring is held, and between the upper arm 67 and the adjacent upwardlyextending key projection 71 of the upper sleeve 63 is formed a recess 72 to receive the upper bent end of the closing-spring. The engagement of the lower end of the hub 56 with the frame 62 is for the purpose of enabling the ratchet-plate 52 to rotate said frame 62 in either direction, in accordance with the movement imparted to said ratchetplate from the lever-arm 50. The frame 62 is free upon the spindle 25 and extends from the lower end of the spring-chamber to the upper end thereof.

Adjacent to the frame62 there is provided within the spring-chamber 22 a post 73,whicl1 in the present instance is formed integrally with and carried by the separating-plate 24, and thepost 73 is set inwardly from the inner vertical wall of the spring-chamber a suflicient distance to enable the spring (numbered 74) to pass between it and said wall, as shown in Fig. 2.

The closing-spring 74 is acoiled-wire spring encompassing the spindle 25 and frame 62 and post 73, and the upper end of said spring, as shown in Fig. 3, is bent over the adjacent edges of the post 73 and arm 67, and the extrerne end 75 of this portion of the spring is held within the recess 72 between the arm 67 and projection 71 of the frame 62, said portion 75 of the spring bearing with astrong spring action against the outer surface of said projection 71. The lower bent end ofthe spring 74 is reversely disposed to the upper end thereof, and saidlower end of the spring is pressed againstthe adjacent vertical edges of the post 73 and arm 68 of the frame 62, and the extreme end part 76 of this lowerend of the spring is held within a recess between the said arm 68 and the vertical wall of the sleeve portion 64 of the frame 62, as

. indicated by dotted lines, in Fig. 3, the said part of the spring bearing with a spring actionagainst the said sleeve 64.

When the parts of the door closer and check are arranged for a right-hand door,'as shown in Fig. 1, the rotation of the frame 62 from the lever 50 and ratchet-plate 52 will wind'the spring 74 from its upper end, said frame 62 then pulling against the upper bent end of the said spring and effecting the winding up of the said spring, the upper bent end of the spring then traveling on the line of a circle from the stationary post 73, but, having its outer portion held in firm contact with the arm 67 and projection 71 of the frame 62. When the lever-arm 50 and pawl 51 are arranged for a left-hand door, the rotation of the frame 62 from the ratchet-plate 52 will result in winding the spring 74 from its lower end, the arm 68 of said frame then carrying the lower end of the spring on the path of a circle from the edges of the post 73. The post 73'normally operates as a stop for both the upper and lower ends of the spring 74 and will firmly hold the lower end of the spring when said spring is being wound from its upper end and will effectually hold the upper end of said spring when the latter is being wound from its lower end.

It is to be observed that the rotary frame- 62 and spring 74 are free of the actuatingspindle 25, said spindle being employed mainly for imparting motion from the leverarm 50 to the crank-arm 42, piston-rod 40,.

and piston 35. The spring 74 may, as above explained, be wound from either its upper or lower end, and under either condition the.

hereinbefore explained, being keyed to the.

rotary frame 62, whose motion results in the Winding of the spring.

The post-7 3 operates as a stop for the ends of the spring 74 and also as a convenient means for aiding in maintaining the vertical parallelism of the coils of the spring 74 during the winding and unwinding of the same. A feature of the invention which we consider to be of considerable importance is that the end arms 75 7 6 of the spring 74 are normally flexed against the upper and lower portions of the frame-62, as distinguished from lying idly within the recesses 70 72 of said frame, and the said end arms 75 76 when thus disposed'will, by reason of the force with which they contact with the frame 62, cause the coils of the i the adjustable connecting-rod 80, having at one end the usual bracket 81, adapted to be 1 around opposite edges of said post and adjasecured to the lintel over the door.

The operation of the door closer and check will be fully understood from the description hereinbefore presented. It may be mentioned, however, that the spring 74 is always under an initial tension and that said spring may be wound from either end, in accordance with the movement of thelever-arm 50, said spring without reversal being thus adapted for either right or left hand doors. The actuating-spindle 25 is relied upon as the means for effecting the operation of the piston 35.

The spring and liquid chamber freely communicate with each other, and the liquid will be poured into the spring-chamber until the same fills the liquid cylinder or chamber 21 and partly fills the spring-chamber, thus assuring the proper operation of the piston and the constant lubrication of the operative parts within the spring-chamber.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a door-closer, theinclosingcasing, the Vertical rotary frame centrally therein, means supporting said frame, and means for actuating said frame, said frame having the upper and lower laterally-projecting arms 67, 68, combined with the double-acting coiled closing-spring within said casing and encompassing said frame, and means disposed within the outline of said spring to serve as stops for the upperand lower-ends of same, said spring having reversely-bent upper and lower ends extendinginwardly and secured to said frame, the upper end of said spring being extended inwardly along one side of its stop and the corresponding side of the said upper arm 67, and the lower end of said spring being extended inwardly along the other side of its stop and the corresponding side of the said lower arm 68; substantially as set forth.

2. In a door-closer, the operating lever-arm, and'the spindle to which said lever-arm is connected, combined with the double-acting coiled-wire spring encompassing but free of said spindle, the vertical post set within said spring, the rotary frame freely mounted on said spindle and engaging the reversely-bent ends of said spring, and means for actuating said rotary frame from said lever-arm, said ends of said spring being extended around opposite edges of said post and adjacent edges of parts of said rotary frame; substantially as set forth.

3. In adoorcloserand check, the operating lever-arm,the actuating-spindle to which said lever-arm is secured, the double-acting coiledwire spring encompassing but free of said spindle, the vertical post set within said spring, the rotary frame freely mounted upon said actuating-spindle and engaging the reversely-bent ends of said spring, means for actuating said rotary frame from said leverarm, said ends of said spring being extended cent edges of parts of said rotary frame, combined with the cylinder, the checking-piston therein, and means connecting said actuating-spindle and said piston for operating the latter from said actuating-spindle; substantially as set forth.

4. Inadoor-closer, the operatinglever-arm, and the main spindle to which saidlever-arm is connected, combined with the double-acting closing-spring encompassing but free of said spindle, the rotary frame mounted upon said main spindle and free thereof and adapted at its opposite ends to respectively engage the ends of said spring for Winding the latter from either end, and a locking device connected with said lever-arm and positively engaging said rotary frame at its upper end for rotating the same in either direction in accordance with the direction of motion of said lever-arm, said locking device being free of said main spindle and positively connected with said rotary frame so as to at once, upon being moved in either direction, impart motion to said rotary frame for winding said spring; substantially as set forth.

5. In a door-closer, the operating lever-arm, and the main spindle to which said lever-arm is connected, combined with the double-acting spring encompassing but free of said spindle, the rotary frame 62 having the upper and lower arms 67, 68 and recesses 70, 72 to be engaged by the reversely-bent ends of said spring, the ratchet-plate mounted freely upon said spindle and engaged by said leverwarm and having a downwardly-extending tubular key portion positively engaging said rotary frame for actuating the latter to Wind said spring from either end in accordance with the direction of motion of said lever-arm, and means for retaining one end of said spring when the latter is being wound from its other end, said frame 62 being free on said main spindle; substantially as set forth.

6. In a door check and closer, the exterior casing forming the spring-chamber and liquid-cylinder, a closing-spring within said spring-chamber, the actuating-spindle, and the lever-arm, combined with the piston in said cylinder, means connecting said piston with said spindle, the sheet-steel cap 27 having the central flanged aperture and set into a recess in the end of said cylinder and en gaging the inner shoulder 34: on said cylinder, the frame 30 engaging a shoulder 31 within said cylinder, and the screw 29 passing through said cap and engaging a threaded aperture in said frame 30 and having its head engaging the flange around the central opening in said cap; substantially as set forth.

7. In a door-check, the liquid-cylinder having the by-pass 45 extending around the piston and at its inner end 48 extending downwardly through the side wall of said cylinder and terminating at a point Well below the upper edges of said piston so as to discharge in a downward direction directly into and Signed at New York,in the county andSt-atebelow the upper surface of the body of liquid of New York, this 26th day of 'Decem her, 1902.

i to be placed in said cylinder, and the regu= JOSEPH BARDSLEY.

lating-screw 47 for controlling said by-pass, ALBERT J. ROSENTRETERQ 5 combined with the actuating-spindle and the Witnesses: 3

piston connected with said spindle; substan- ARTHUR MARION, tially as set forth. CHARLES C. GILL. 

